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Wednesday, April 07, 2004
Arroyo's wish for Negros: Peace, unity
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
PEACE and unity for Negros, was the simple birthday wish of President Arroyo during her 57th birthday celebration Monday.
In a brief telephone interview over her cellular phone, the President answered "peace and unity" when asked her birthday wish for Negros following the defection of local leaders to the opposition.
Arroyo celebrated her birthday Monday in her hometown of Lubao, Pampanga, by having lunch with town farmers at the churchyard in San Agustin Church.
Before the lunch, the President also attended mass in the same church.
On the other hand, presidential brother-in-law Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo disclosed that the President already aborted her supposed Holy Week vacation in Binalbagan, the hometown of the Arroyos.
Instead, the President and the rest of the members of the First Family will be in Baguio City, said Iggy.
During her March 19 visit in Negros, the President disclosed she will be spending her Holy Week vacation in Hacienda Manoleta, Binalbagan together with her husband First Gentleman Mike, children, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren.
However, sources said that after Gov. Joseph Marañon bolted from the "Sunshine Coalition" together with some members of the Nationalist People's Coalition, the President changed her mind.
Iggy, meanwhile, said he will instead be in Binalbagan with his wife Alleli and children.
He added that on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday will be spent for family gatherings, self meditation and reflections.
In Lubao, Pampanga, former senator Miriam Santiago said she wishes that people would get to know President Arroyo better as she did after she joined the administration coalition.
"She's actually a driven person. She has a very short fuse like I do (and she has a desire to) improve governance (and) deliver a perfect performance as Chief Executive," she said.
After the Pampanga sortie, President Arroyo went to the television station of Net 25, which is run by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), for an interview.
She also agreed to a phone patch interview by radio station dzEC, INC's radio station. The move was seen as a form of courting the Iglesia vote.
In her interview over Net 25's Con Todos Recados program, President Arroyo said she never planned on being a politician but dreamed of being a teacher and at one time, a pilot.
President Arroyo said she and her brother Diosdado Macapagal Jr. took up economics and business-related courses because their father wanted them to be entrepreneurs, which is something he did not achieve.
After the interview, Arroyo went back to Malacañang to play with her granddaughters Mikaela Gloria and Eva Victoria.
(April 6, 2004 issue)
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